Jan McHugh BA(Hons), PGDip, FPC, UKCP, BPC

About me

Psychotherapy offers a way of learning about ourselves, about what makes it difficult for us to live, providing insights which help us “live forward and understand backwards”. Therapy is a regular protected space each week in which you are invited to share with your therapist what is in your mind. Her task is to ‘be there’ — to stand alongside — to listen carefully to all that you bring and to work together with you to ‘see’ you, and understand together something of what gets in your way. This can help you reduce or remove obstacles to living.

What might we want at the end of psychotherapy?

“…to have a sense of self that you can stay with rather than run away from.” - (David Morgan, Psychoanalyst)

Training, qualifications & experience

Counselling and Psychotherapy:

I qualified as a counsellor in 1981, completing a foundation programme at the Institute of Group Analysis shortly after. Further seminars followed including programmes at Philadelphia Association, Institute of Psychoanalysis, Tavistock Clinic and Squiggle Foundation (including an infant observation). Four years clinical practice and further study at WPF Therapy led to my gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, and professional qualification as a psychodynamic psychotherapist.

Systems-Psychodynamic Consultancy:

I have practiced independently as a Systems-Psychodynamic Consultant (in the Tavistock tradition) for 30 years. Following thirteen years at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust as a member of the “Consulting to Institutions Workshop” (led by Dr. Anton Obholzer), I became a Visiting Tutor on the Trust’s PG Diploma / MA programme “Consultation and the Organisation: Psychoanalytic Approaches." Later, I served on the Trust’s Council of Governors.

I have 40 years experience working for social change through individual and organisational learning, chiefly in the NHS, charities and public services addressing priorities in social exclusion, equalities and diversity, sexual and mental health, primary care, the arts, education.

Now:

I work as a psychodynamic psychotherapist in private practice and within an NHS service for women who have experienced sexual trauma and abuse in childhood. I also welcome enquiries regarding consultancy and supervision in relation to workplace roles (fees by request).

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Fees

My fees are negotiable according to your circumstances; but typically fall in the range £40-75 per 50 minute session. A preliminary consultation over one or two meetings (for which a single flat rate is charged) will help us understand more about you and your concerns, and to decide whether to agree further work together.